Whether Fulham manage to secure the services of one of European football’s most promising but most mercurial of talents remains to be seen.
HITC reported in midweek that Marco Silva’s side had entered discussions, while making a verbal offer of £12 million.
But while Fulham are obviously keen on Rayan Cherki, how keen Rayan Cherki is on Fulham remains a little less certain? Reports emerging from France in the aftermath of those Cottagers talks seem to suggest that Cherki has his reservations.
As such, a transfer saga which has rumbled on throughout the summer might still be subject to a few twists and turns.
Cherki was expected to swap Lyon for Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the window, only for that deal to break down. Borussia Dortmund then moved in but negotiations ended in similar circumstances.
With his contract expiring in 2025 and with Cherki clearly not a key part of head coach Pierre Sage’s plans, expect Lyon to turbo-charge their attempts to get the France Under 21 international out the door in the final few days of August.
Fulham and Crystal Palace eye Lyon’s Rayan Cherki
Speaking to BeIN Sports ahead of Monaco’s visit to the Groupama Stadium on Saturday, Sage indicated that Cherki may be forced to train with the Lyon reserves if he stays put, in what may be viewed as a less-than-subtle attempt to push the academy graduate out of the back door.
“Concerning Rayan Cherki, there has always been a departure in the background, with all the communication that there was around him,” says Sage, who remarkably took Lyon into Europe last season after arriving at a club fearing relegation.
“We were waiting for him (to go to) Paris. Then, we talked about it with Dortmund. Then, many other clubs.
“So it’s true that, for us, we are preparing more for him to leave. Given that there is no short-term projection for him in the squad, there may be no point in him training with us.”
HITC understands that Crystal Palace are also in the mix alongside their London neighbours and the Joachim Andersen-bound Fulham.
The Eagles have not gone quite as far as Marco Silva’s side have in pursuit of the gifted but erratic 21-year-old. Though, with American businessman John Textor a co-owner of both clubs, discussions with Palace could prove to be rather more straightforward than with Fulham.
“We will see what happens on August 31,” Sage adds. “Because, if at that time he is still an Olympique Lyonnais player, the problem will be a little different. But I am not sure that this (will be) the case.”
Lyon want to sell thd former PSG target
Cherki, Ligue 1 expert Jonathan Johnson tells Caught Offside, is perhaps Lyon’s most gifted academy graduate since the legendary Karim Benzema. The French football fanatic also sees similarities with a young, Lille-era Eden Hazard.
But, while Cherki’s ability has never been in doubt, the concern for many is that he maybe lacks the mentality to follow in Benzema’s footsteps.
Rather more unflattering comparisons with Hatem Ben Arfa – a classic case of wasted potential if there ever was on – sum up the feelings towards Cherki across the Channel.
“Regarding Rayan, we spoke with him at the beginning of the summer. We are still in discussions to find a solution,” Lyon director David Friio recently told Le Progres, via Made in Foot.
“He will certainly leave, yes.”
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